Comparison of skill-related fitness in four sports involving overhead motions in the University of Peradeniya

Skill-related physical fitness components significantly impact equilibrium, movement precision, rapid directional shifts, force generation, and the ability to respond to stimuli. Assessing and addressing these factors are paramount for athletes and coaches, promoting success in sports involving overhead motion. The aim was to compare skill-related physical fitness among athletes playing badminton, basketball, netball, and volleyball for the university team at the University of Peradeniya. It was an observational cross-sectional study. All seventy-seven athletes (mean age 23.05±1.52) from the university team and eighty subjects were recruited as controls (mean age 24.47±1.84). Star excursion balance test, alternate hand wall toss test, Illinois agility test, overhead medicine ball throw test, nelson hand reaction time test, and Kinovea were the measures used to assess skill-related physical fitness factors. One-way ANOVA and Sheffe test were utilized, significace level was set as p<0.05 with 95% confidence interval. The results revealed that the basketball players exhibited better dynamic balance performance in right posteromedial (95.94±19.59) and left posterior directions 104.26±26.03 compared to badminton players. Also, volleyball players showed better dynamic balance performance in right medial direction (81.60±23.04) compared to badminton players. Results of independent sample t test showed a significant difference in balance and coordination, while there was no statistically significant difference in agility, power, reaction time, and speed between the athletes and the control group. The findings of the study emphasize the importance of formulating training programs to improve skill-related physical fitness among the University athletes playing badminton, basketball, volleyball and netball. This is essential to improve their performance and to prevent injuries that can occur due to inadequate skill-related physical fitness.